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  Associate Professor Diana Bowman (’98) 

‘As a law professor I am given extraordinary freedom in the topics I teach and the research I undertake. When asked what I do for a job, my often-used reply is, ‘I get paid to think.’ ‘About what?’ is the standard follow up question. ‘Anything I want to.’ 

Diana Bowman is Associate Professor in the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University (ASU) and Associate Dean for International Engagement. In April 2018 Diana was awarded one of the prestigious Andrew Carnegie Fellowships to help address global challenges through research in the humanities and social sciences. She has a BSc (Physiology), LLB (2003) and PhD (Law) (2007) from Monash University. 

Currently, Diana is engaged with the investigation of complex legal and regulatory questions relating to the potential human and environmental risks posed by emerging technologies, such as nanotechnologies, CRISPR-Cas9 and autonomous vehicles. She works with governments and multi-lateral organisations to help them develop the appropriate legislative responses for the technologies. She explores novel ways that the law can be used to respond to pressing public health issues. This has included working with governments and their agencies to reduce the number of deaths and serious injury experienced on the roads in, for example, Sub-Saharan Africa, arguing for a ban on indoor tanning for minors in the United States, and examining the efficacy of paediatric organ donation allocation policies. 

‘The intellectual curiosity instilled in me during my time at Ruyton, along with the belief that Ruyton students really can do anything, has been a significant driver in the questions that I tackle. But it is more than that; it is also the values of teamwork, community mindedness and helping others that shapes my work.’ 

In a career focused on understanding the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of new and emerging technologies Diana can conduct research in both social and technical fields. She is recognised internationally as a leader in ELSI studies of new and emerging technologies. But it is knowing that the work she conducts can make a real difference that gives her the most satisfaction.